Incontinence

One - I am still dripping after 3 months. It is not getting better or worse. I have been somewhat negligent of doing kegels and seem to keep forgetting. I have just grown accustomed to the situation. I do relly wish I could get rid of this last pad though! I definatly leak when passing gas and coughing. Sometime it just leaks for no reason at all. Hope it to get better soon.

Dennis

Who did your Robotic Surgery?  What hospital?  What has your doctor said about your results from his procedure?  Did he save the bladder sphincter? 

I hope you get this to a managable level soon.  That must really be depressing.  Keep the spirits up.  I suspect that things will be fine with a little more time and patience, and this forum should help you with support and ideas too.

Our positive thoughts are part of your support team too.

Steve B.

The key numbers of procedures seperating low from high volume hospitals re: the robotic, is at least 100 per year. It is generally said the first 50 a surgeon does are practice and after that it just keeps getting better. One hopes anyway!

Right now there are a good number of surgeons that have mastered the RRLP. Every state has a few. Look and you will definately find them. Robotic procedures are the up and coming surgical specialty making surgeons by the boat load run to the nearest and best in which to train along side. Might be wiser these days to make sure the surgeon you think is yours, is actually the one you get. I'd be more worried about Mr. Roboto playing video games in my gut myself.

 

I was 98% dry as soon as the catheter was removed. However I'm sure my age, 40, had something to do with that. I did practice kegels several times a day for three months before the surgery. The only leakage I had was during coughs, sneezes, or lifting heavy objects. Now 2 months later even that has improved.

So I'm 48, and the cancer was diagnosed in July (2 of twleve, PSA = 5.2, Gleeson = 3+3 on both).  Quite honestly, I just have had no time to worry about it, as we have way too much going on in our lives.

I had the prostate removed on Oct 3.  Blood loss during surgery was about 150 ml - or less than one-half a Coke can.  I was very pleased.

Catheter was removed on Oct. 10.  I had been practicing kegels for about 2 months previously - off and on.

When the catheter was removed, I gushed and gushed and gushed, dribbled, gushed, dribble when I sit, lay down, stand up, etc. ad nauseum.  Never took any Detrol.  The gushing continues as I stand up and walk.  Coughing and sneezing still hurt a little, and I get a dribble or gush when that occurs as well.  I continue practicing kegels, but it seems that I have more control when I have a nap lying down.  I can get up, hold my bladder, and make it to the toilet to relieve myself.  In fact, yesterday (Saturday), I actually felt a "flow" of urine that I could push out as I relieved myself, rather than simply just an uncontrollable flowing gush.

I understand that this will take time to control.

My question regards the blood.  It seems that after I urinate, I get 6-12 drops of blood after I am done.  I am trying not to "push" to clear my bladder - as I used to do.  However, the blood just drips after the urinating stops.  There is no pain, and no burning.  Just the blood.

What should I be expecting?, and for how long?

 

They said to expect the blood in the urine, but even though they have done several hundred of these, they have not had it done themselves - hence, I'd like to figure out how "normal" this really is, and how long it should continue.

RObotic

Hey Mike,

It’s been two weeks since robotic surgery. On Monday morning, my surgeon told me to stop my kegel exercises. As a result, the blood appears to have cleared up as of Tuesday afternoon. No blood today (Wednesday).

I’ve got the Detrol LA, but have never taken it. I was told not to use it within 24 hours of having the catheter removed. I’ve never seen the need to take it subsequently.

I’ve been wearing diapers with pads since having the catheter removed. My bladder leaks more than gushes – though when I stand up, I will gush into the diaper pad. I guess that my control will take a little longer since I am not supposed to practice kegels for about a week. Not really concerned about long term continence, as I’m 48. The blood was disconcerting as the last thing I wanted was to get the catheter re-installed. That is a life experience I’d rather avoid.

I just recently found this forum, so thought I would respond. Wish I had found it sooner. I had the DaVinci surgery in January, 2005. Catheter out in about 8 days. Lot's of leakage, no blood in urine. Got out of diapers in about 4 weeks. Actually kept wearing the Depends diaper with a pad just to be sure for a couple of weeks. Went back to work in six weeks with just a pad. Still wear a small Poise pad just to be sure. I find that if I drink alcohol at a party for example, there is a good chance I will leak.

I found that walking is really a great factor in getting everything back under control. I was out walking within 7 days of being out of surgery. I slowly built up my walks to a couple of miles per day. Now I try to get out at least 4 days a week and walk.

I wasn't a big fan of the Kegel exercises. Maybe I should go back and try to start that again.

---

Axe - 59
Diagnosed - October, 2004 - PSA 3.3 up from 2.4
Gleason 3+3 = 6
T2A
DaVinci Surgery - January, 2006
UVA Medical Center
All PSA's at 0.00 since

Hi Axeman, I am 59 3+3=6 psa 3.3 up from 2.4 Just had my cathater removed today 10/23/06 Surgery 10/12/06. I am gushing and leaking today. I did stop and start urine but man there is a lot of urine. I can see how it could get depressing! Wearing diapers and running to the bathroom alot. Did kegels a little bit should have done more. I am doing them now! Any advice? Thanks Shepla